Sebastian wasn't livid. Maybe he was upset —upset that, like always, Angelica had found a way to nuke his mood before the day began, and worse, on a day he was least prepared for.
Never had he felt this irritable, this out of sort in his entire life. Not even the company and the mountain of inherited problems that came with it had ever made him this out of control. But some how, Angelica achieved it every damn time.
It wasn't her need for more that angered him, but the frustration that came with the betrayal. Yes, he saw it as her betrayal because he had been clear from the beginning he didn't want any part of this. He had told her what he wanted and she had agreed to it.
If he had known she'd take this turn, he would have found a way out of this snare his grandfather had set for him and Angelica had assisted in luring him into.
Now, not only was he entrapped in this marriage, he was also in the middle of a corporate war. Another trap he had found himself, all thanks and accolades to his grandfather.
"I hope you're having a very cold tea in heaven, old man." He hissed as he alighted the private elevator leading to his office.
Walking past the desk in front of his office, a tall brunette with chin cut hair followed after him.
"Good morning, Mr Croft." Her heels clacked against the ground as she hurried to match his strides.
"Good morning, Sydney." He coolly greeted. "What meeting do I have first?" He was certain he knew about it early this morning, but somehow during his confrontation with Angelica, it had slipped off his mind. He dropped his bag and rounded the mahogany desk to his seat.
"Your 08:15 with Mr Kaplan has been cancelled." That stopped him on his feet. He swivelled towards her with urgency.
"What happened?"
"Apparently, he heard about the case. He called and asked if the rumors were true."
"Please tell me you didn't confirm anything." His brows were already getting wrinkled, and pressure was slowly building in his temple.
"I told him they were nothing but rumours."
"But," he was sure there was a but somewhere.
"But he's going to have his people look into it. He'll call to reschedule if they come up with nothing and he's still interested."
He doubted Kaplan would be interested when he discovers the mountain of charges facing them. He had just lost a client before the meeting with the board members.
Just right! What a way to start an already sour day. He hissed and continued to his seat.
Plopping down to his seat, he raked his mind for a solution on how best to savour the situation. There were myriads of files sitting on his desk, reviews impatiently awaiting his approval, mails and tenants complain to be read and above all, a deposition to prepare for.
What a mess his life was! And he was in a much bigger mess, but somehow above all these, Angelica's face still hovered in his head. The look on her face when he told her Rachel and Josh were none of her business.
The paleness and the horror that had drawn it to a still. That look of utter disbelief and betrayal. He had not liked it, and for some reason it was still in his head like a graven image.
Maybe he could have explained. And told her what? That the boy was his responsibility? And that he couldn't tell her the truth because a lot of lives would be jeopardized?
The company was already in jeopardy, as if that wasn't enough problem in itself. The last thing he needed at the moment was pacifying an enraged wife, who didn't just want an explanation, but also his affection.
Unfortunately that was a luxury he couldn't afford, because right this moment, his family's empire was in a mess and he wasn't about to lose the one thing his grandfather had entrusted him with. Crofton.
"Get me back that list. If Kaplan is backing out, we'll let him know there are a lot more people who are willing to do business with us."
"Yes, sir." With a spring in her leg, she beelined her way to the door and out his office.
Watching her leave, he flipped open the first file on his desk and turned on his laptop. Staring at the fully charged icon, he knew Angelica had plugged it in. She always did stuff like this. Picking out his clothes, sorting his files, arranging his desk in the study, buying flowers and making plans for anniversaries and birthdays.
She kept doing the things he didn't ask. Didn't want. And seeing those broken and disappointed look on her face made him...
He didn't know what he felt. He didn't even care what he felt. It was just his good conscience battling him, because yes he'd pride himself as a man with a good conscience. But right this moment, his good conscience wouldn't solve a dent of his problems. His wit would.
His grandfather had entrusted him with the company. Him, not anyone else. Not even Eric Kaldor who believed he was a more suited candidate for running the ship, simply on the basis of his years of experience and sacrifice put into the company. And he was currently making a move on the board members who he believed were in support of him and against his grandfather's idea of nepotism.
He answered the telephone when it rang. "Yes, Sydney."
"Sir, Mr Kaldor is here for you. He is...Mr Eric, please wait a moment, Mr Croft—"
Sebastian could tell what was going on there. He sighed into the phone. "Sydney, let him in. And get me that list now." Terminating the call, he sighed again. His eyes darted towards the door when it opened and Eric walked in.
"What do you think you're doing?" He demanded as he stormed towards the table. "What's this I hear about you opting for settlement?"
"Good morning, to you too. And if you can stop yelling. This isn't your office." He shifted his attention to the document in front of him. He had gone through it over and over again, but the numbers weren't adding up.
He shot the man a look when he offered himself a seat. "I didn't ask you to sit." He drawled.
But unfazed and with utmost nonchalancy, Eric settled in and crossed his legs by the knee. "No, you didn't, but I'm taking it anyway. What the hell is this about you settling those tenants? Why aren't you dismissing the case? This is some company they can just sue over trivialities."
"Trivialities?" Sebastian scoffed with incredulity. "Hot water, heat, safety in the walls of our buildings are not trivialities, they're called basic amenities. Key word in basic. Which means they're required for daily living and since those are our buildings, that makes them entitled to those things."
"They have water. Repairs were made in the damn building." Eric told him.
"Replacement not repairs. What those buildings need are proper placement and renovation. The paints are falling off the wall, and elevator is at the brink of falling apart. But if you had visited those buildings, or at least the one we're being sued for, you'd know all these." But clearly he didn't, or maybe if he did, he just didn't care enough.
"And you think settlement is going to solve this? After this, how many more tenants do you think would come knocking on our doors for settlement? This time, a mother is claiming we made her child sick because of some damn windows! What's it going to be next?" Eric snapped at him and that got Sebastian's eyes to narrow to a slit.
"If you had fixed the damn windows and the number of things they've been requesting in the last two years, maybe we wouldn't be slammed with a law suit, and I wouldn't be here trying to save the company from this mess!" Sebastian roared back at him. Eric went silent for a while.
Slightly shifting on his seat, he regained his composure. "I hope you know what you're doing? Because this isn't how things are handled here. But of course, you wouldn't know that because—"
"Because what?" Sebastian demanded, fully aware Eric had trailed off for effect, and yes, he got his attention because he was giving it to him.
"Well, if you want to hear it, then by all means." He leaned towards his desk, his elbow resting on it.
"Because you're not fit for the job. And we both as hell know that for a fact, Sebastian. If you are, then you would have known that the settlement would cost 25% more than the revenue that property brings. And the board members are not going to be pleased on wasting money. Because unlike you, they'd rather make more than spend it." He stared at Sebastian, smugly waiting for him to have a comeback, like he usually did.
But when none came, he rose to his feet. "I've always pride your grandfather to be capable and sensible in decision making, but his choice of a succession, I'm not sure the board members are happy with it, and I really doubt when you'd be able to hold onto that seat of yours after today's meeting."
Feeling smug about himself, he buttoned his suit, and rose to his feet. But just before he could leave, Sebastian rose from his seat.
"Eric," he called, and the man turned to him. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I don't know what really goes on in here like you do, but I'm sure just like those 20 board members, you know that those projects bring in 30% of this company's revenue and it had done for 5 decades. And I'm also sure they remember what Crofton is all about, and that's providing quality and affordable housing. And when we fail to do that, then we aren't Crofton. And maybe this is the reason why my grandfather chose me over you. You have no idea what the company represents."
Now it was Eric's turn to be quiet. He wasn't dumbfounded or anything along that line, because Sebastian was just a young boy so full of himself, who believed he had what it takes to sail a ship like Crofton. But apparently he doesn't. He would let him wallow in the water for as long as he could. And when the current finally took him, he'd be there to take back the job that truly belonged to him.
"I'll see you at the meeting." He said, and sauntered out of the office.
Sebastian stood still, his hands holding firmly to the edge of the table. His knuckles hadn't turned white from anger, but rather because somewhere in the pit of stomach he could feel a clench. A clench that indicated Eric Kaldor's words carried a weight of truth in it.
He was prepared for this. Not for taking over Crofton, and definitely not for Angelica. But somehow he had to juggle both responsibilities like his grandfather expected him to. However, between both affairs, Crofton took precedence.